Gang-plow



(ModeL) J. M. FIX.

GANG PLOW.

Patented Oct. 2, 1883..

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GANG-PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,885, dated October 2, 1813. Application filed February 5, 1853. (Model) whereby it is specially serviceable for sidehill work.

My invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of devices, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my plow. Fig. 2 is a cross-section showing racks G and guards (I.

Let A A represent the plow-beams, and B 'the tongue or (lraftbar.

G is the axle, having on each end the loose cranks D, to the ends of which the wheels E are journaled.

In plows of this description there are always levers F secured to the cranks D, whereby said cranks may be turned to raise and lower the plows. These levers engage with racks G, and are held to place either by separate springs, or the levers may be made as here shown, the

' lower part, 0, being of spring material. Now,

my first improvement relates to these racks.

In gang-plows, especially those intended for side-hills, it has been found desirable to so connect the axle with the beams that by suitable means the axle may be turned obliquely to the line of travel or draft in order to get to a or from the land with more precision, and to avoid slipping. This is accomplished by piv oting the axle at a, and providing a guide, I), for it at the other side. A rod, 0, joins the axle with the lower end of a lever, H, pivoted to the back of the beam, and engaging suitably through a pawl with arack, I. By operating this lever the axle may be drawn or forced in a position obliquelyto the line of travel. This construction is now well known, and it sug gests three points, which lead to my improvement, as I shall explain. At first, when the axle was stationary, the racks (l were secured to the beams A; but when the axle was rendered adjustable, as I have explained, it

became necessary to remove the racks from the beams, because the lovers F, being attached to the axle or to the cranks, moved with said axle and no longer engaged the racks with precision, as these, being on the beam, were stationary. The racks, therefore, had to be in some manner connected with the axle to move with it. They were accordingly secured upon top of high standards extending upward from the axle, and there they now remain; but the objection to this is that by the intervention of the bridge or support formed by these standards the racks are raised so high that the strain of the levers, when engaged therewith, acts through said standard as through a lever, and brings entirely toomuch strain upon the axle. Every time the levers are thrown into engagement with the racks a strain is placed upon the axle through the leverage of the standards supporting the racks. The axles used cannot well bear this strain, as they are made small in diameter, and it is a difficult matter to keep them from twistin My improvement consists in doing away with the strain by bolting the racks right down on the axle. To adapt the axle for this purpose, and to make it better able to resist what little strain there is, I make it wide. Thus itwill be seen that my racks G are bolted down solidly on the axle, and that the latteris made very wide. The racks, levers, and axle may be made of any suitable material. The strain of the levers F, when thrown into engagement with the racks, will not be trans mitted to the axle to any extent, because there. is no purchase.

Another improvement consists in the adaptation of the cranks l) to receive the wheels at either end. The wheels are usually placed out of line, but some may desire to have them brought nearer if not quite in line. I may take out the spindle or journal J from one end of the crank and insert it in the other end, transferring the scraper usually placed, on these plows to the first end,

My next improvement consists in a guard and protector for the spring of the levers F. When the lever once engages with the teeth of 00 the rack, it is sometimes hard to disengage it, and the operator is required to use a sudden force. When this is done, the springs a, forming the lower end of the lever, and which hold l'orciblythrown out it, frees itself, but no more,

, as the guard (1 comes in contact with the edge of the rack, and prevents its further movement outwardly, thus protecting the spring 6. The guard d is therefore not so much of a guide as a protector, and therein differs from the ordinary guides resembling it, which are attached to sliding levers and embracethe racks closely. Such levers are held in engagement by a sepa-- rate pawl mechanism, and their operation is simply to slide along the rack when their pawl is disengaged. They have no springs to be strained, and therefore need only a guide and not a guard, such as I have shown to be necessary in case of a spring-lever.

YVhen the plow is moving on the road or on rough land, it may happen that the levers F will not remain in engagement with their racks. In order to lock them therein, when necessary, I have. the following device:

livotcd upon the inside of the levers F are short levers P. The lower ends of these are bent inwardly and backwardly, forming a point, which is in position to enter between the guard (l and the inner edge of the rack, or to be withdrawn therefrom by th: movement of the upper end of the. levers P. These upper ends are formed of a spring-strip, and are adapted to engage with a short cross-rack, 1), upon the main levers, to holdtheir lower ends in or out of engagement with the guards d. \Vhen thrown in, they lock the guards d, so that the levers 1* cannot spring out, and when drawn back they release them.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina gang-plow, the cranks D, having a bearing at each end adapted to receive the wheels forward or backfsubstantially as herein described.

2. The racksG, in combination with the spring-levers F, having bifurcated spring ends 6 e, and the guards (Z for limiting the movement of said levers in disengaging themselves from the rack, and the means for locking said levers in the racks, consisting of the springlevers P, engaging with racks p, the lower ends of said levers being adapted to enter between the guardsd and racks G, or to withdraw therefirom', substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. Ina gang-plow, the pivoted axle (l, having the cranks D for the wheels, and ameans for turning said axle obliquely with the line of travel, in combination with the levers F for JAMES M. FIX.

\Vitnesses:

Roe'r. Mains, J OHN' BIRD. 

